Glucagon RIA

Glucagon is a well-known and important peptide hormone which has been demonstrated to play a vital role in many biological functions, particularly gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis. The glucagon peptide is conserved in all mammals. Glucagon is secreted from alpha cells in the pancreas in response to low circulating glucose levels. Glucagon levels in normal patients can range from 50-250pg/mL (14-72 pM) depending upon food intake. The main function of glucagon is to act as a counter-regulatory hormone to insulin. Because of this, glucagon is an attractive and popular biological target with regard to glucose homeostasis. Glucagon is part of a larger proglucagon protein which is enzymatically cleaved to form smaller, related peptides with various biological functions.